Hearing her friend’s worried voice, Sherry finally broke down in tears again.

“Jackie… I don’t know what to do. I thought I was fairly intelligent, having grown up without lacking anything as a princess and receiving extensive education, but I was wrong. There’s nothing I can do in the face of this crisis. Not even a way to heal my mother and father… all I do is cry every day. Living day by day worrying about dwindling food.”

[Dash] …Sherry.

“I know. Your situation isn’t any better than ours… My brother says crying won’t help, but I really don’t know what to do… It’s just so frustrating and sorrowful.”

She wanted to live.

With a desperate cry, Sherry burst into tears.

‘I shouldn’t cry. Jacqueline is having a tough time just like me…’

Fear tightened around her throat, making it impossible to breathe.

Though their mansion was protected by magical barriers, the ever-present zombies on the streets made Sherry feel as if she were wandering eternally in a nightmare.

The steadily dwindling food and water supplies. The Duke and Duchess with no signs of recovery. Time wasted away in confinement…

All these things shattered Sherry Daymon’s psyche.

[Dash] …It’s going to be okay, really. You can’t lose hope now.

“Jackie…”

Her crying friend was comforted by Jacqueline.

Though Jacqueline was also terrified by the situation, she knew she couldn’t let fear defeat her, and so she spoke with as much strength as she could muster.

[Dash] Someone will surely come to rescue us. Just like Anais who came to save Caladia. There must be some people who managed to escape when the disaster struck the capital. To counter this dire situation, someone will definitely come to check for survivors. That’s what I believe.

Though this was merely a hopeful statement, Jacqueline had promised herself dozens of times not to abandon belief in such times.

Her resolute will also reached Sherry, who would call Jacqueline whenever her heart weakened, rekindling the dying embers of hope.

“…Yeah. Someone will surely come to rescue us.”

[Dash] I wish a prince on a white horse would appear miraculously.

To lighten the gloomy atmosphere, Jacqueline made a joke and with a chuckle, Sherry burst out laughing.

“A prince on a white horse? I’d be happy even if a wandering mercenary appeared.”

[Dash] In novels, around this point, a dashing male protagonist appears to rescue the distressed heroine. I wonder if that would happen to us?

“What’s that? Jackie, you used to hate such clichéd novels for their lack of realism.”
“I also have a sense of romance, you know. Do you think a noble of blue blood lacks in romanticism?”

“I thought so.”

“Hey! Sheri Damon!”

“Hahahaha.”

“At last, a little laughter.”

The end of the conversation always concluded with a dull joke. In her chats with friends, Sheri regained her courage, temporarily forgetting the bleak reality.

“Listen, I’ll wait a bit longer. If nobody appears to offer aid when our food supply runs out, I plan to go outside with my brother.”

“You…”

“I’m fortunate that I’ve learned swordsmanship as part of my basic education as a princess. Cloud, my brother, is an honorable knight. I believe we won’t die that easily if we join forces.”

“…If you go out, I’d like to go too. My family is in a similar situation; going together could be more helpful.”

“Then, all the better.”

Two is better than one, and three is better still.

Sheri Damon tried to hold back her overwhelming emotions, striving to maintain a cheerful tone.

“Let’s make a bet on who can defeat more monsters once we’re outside.”

“Being a magician, I’ll have an advantage with my area-of-effect skills. Challenging me to such a bet doesn’t seem wise, Princess Damon.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Just make sure you don’t forget your spells in awe, watching me slay monsters.”

The banter that could only exist among close friends went back and forth, and they thought of Siena.

“Could Siena be… dead?”

“…Who knows.”

In these chaotic times, they could no longer hear any news about Siena, the bride of the wedding.

Although they had considered the possibility that their friend was already dead or had turned into a monster, the thought weighed heavily on Sheri and Jacqueline.

“I can’t believe such a tragedy happened in the imperial capital.”

“Me neither.”

“If this isn’t a natural disaster but someone’s conspiracy, I won’t let it slide.”

“Then their heads will roll.”

“Exactly!”

The conversation took a rather grim turn.

“Sheri!”

Cloud hurriedly ran over, calling Sheri.

“Look, look outside.”

“What’s happening, brother?”

Sheri’s eyes widened as she looked out the window.

Is anyone there?

Enormous words were scrawled atop the magical barrier like graffiti.